Flames’ defence shows promise
HAMONIC, BRODIE MERGER PROFITABLE EARLY FOR FLAMES
The pairing of newcomer Travis Hamonic with defenceman T.J. Brodie is paying dividends so far for the Calgary Flames.
It’s a small sample size just six games into the regular season, but Brodie has been able to get involved in the offence with Hamonic providing the security blanket on the back end.
Brodie’s two goals and four assists, including a four-point night in Calgary’s home opener, puts him among the NHL’s top-10 producing defencemen.
The 27-year-old from Chatham, Ont., cites the chemistry he’s developing with Hamonic as a factor.
“I know if anything happens he’s going to be back there and will be able to cover up,” Brodie said.
“He makes it easier out there that’s for sure. Getting that confidence together, especially early in the season is big for us. Hopefully it continues.”
The price tag to get Hamonic from the New York Islanders in June was hefty as the Flames spent their firstand second-round draft picks in 2018 on him.
But the sticker shock will fade if Calgary’s No. 2 pairing of Brodie and Hamonic, from St. Malo, Man., continue to play like a 1A behind Mark Giordano and Dougie Hamilton.
“You always hope those things take,” Flames head coach Glen Gulutzan said. “You put two good players together, they probably click at some point.
“We also know we had two good people. Their skill sets seemed to fit each other and then add in the people part, we knew that would be a good fit.”
Calgary (4-2) is at home to the Carolina Hurricanes (2-11) tonight and the Minnesota Wild (1-1-2) on Saturday.
Brodie’s defensive partners rotated last season and by the end of November he’d already played beside Giordano, Dennis Wideman and Deryk Engelland.
Brodie’s production of six goals and 30 assists in 2016-17 was slightly down from the previous season, but it was his minus-16 that was the clanger.
“I was a little disappointed in the season and it took me longer than I wanted to get going,” Brodie said.
“That’s something I wanted to focus on this year, coming out better at the start.”